Mr.
Deputy Speaker, Sir, in last October, the atrocities done to the minority Hindu
community by the majority Muslim community in Chandpur, Hajiganj, Faridganj,
Laksham and Chauddagram thanas of Tipperah District is unprecedented in the
history. They have torched the houses of the Hindus and looted all the
belongings by driving them from their houses. By beating the Hindu men and
women brutally, converted them into Islam, and forced them to wear Pakistani
cap. The hooligans raped the women, kidnapped them, broke the conch shell
bangles (shankha) of the married Hindu ladies, wiped out the mark of vermillion
and killed those who declined to be converted. They have desecrated the Hindu
idols, broken some, burnt temples, plundered the shops and torched which was
amounted to loss of crores of rupees to the Hindus.
On
the 13th October atrocities held first in the Chandpur subdivision and when I
heard the news of attack in the villages of Dhamra, Ashatoli, Ragoi, Sorshap,
etc. under P.S. Hazigunj and informed the Government officials. But none of the
local officials took any action for the security. Hence I sent a telegram to
the Prime Minister. Sir, I read the telegram – “Ruthless attack made on
hundreds of Hindus of Ramganj thana, Noakhali and villages of Hajiganj thana,
Chandpur by thousands of Muslims proceeding from Ramganj area. Hundreds of
houses burnt, looted and several casualties reported. Further depredation is
being carried on in Chandpur villages. Situation most terrible. Implore
immediate protection. Pray proceed to area – Jogendra Das, M.L.A.”
But
I am sorry to state the Prime Minister did not reply. We do not believe that
after having received the telegram, the Hon’ble Prime Minister did not take any
measure to protect the properties and honour of the people. Because for about a
month after 13th October the incidents of torching houses, plundering, arson,
rape of women continued unabated. Thousands of Muslims unitedly murdered, loot,
arson, forcible conversion and other offences against women that had become
matters of daily occurrences. From 15th of October they in thousands raised
slogans – Ladke Lenge Pakistan, Marke Lenge Pakistan etc. and attacked the
villages of Haimpur, Charsoladi, Gazipur, Manipur, Charhasadi, Charbhanga etc.
under P.S. Chandpur. All of them carried dangerous weapons – some of them
possessed guns also. About 95% of the population were Scheduled Caste who are
said to be Namasudras and in taken all villages they are accounted about
35,000.
You
might have heard the inhuman torture of these people in the newspapers. Due to
the riot they have been uprooted from their houses and became beggars overnight
and while 19 villagers refused to accept Islam, were brutually murdered. There
were continuing arson, loot, kidnapping of women, rape for three days. Those
villages were within the radius of ten to eleven miles from Chandpur
Headquarters. Sooner we received the news of atrocities, we informed the nearby
police stations, Sub-divisional officer and District Magistrate and demanded
police and military enforcement. But no positive action was taken by the
authority. Timely requisitions of military then such carnage could have been
resisted. As the civil authority failed to taken any measure to protect us, I
again on 16th October sent a telegram. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have already read
out the telegram to you – “Inhuman attack by Muslims on thousands of Hindus
irrespective of scheduled caste, Noakhali villages, Hazigunj, Chandpur,
Faridgunh thanas thousands of scheduled castes rendered homeless destitutes.
Houses looted, burnt, forcible conversion, several casualties reported. Most
Namasudra houses in Haimchar circle burnt. Apprehension spreading throughout
districts. Situation most terrible. Pray immediate protection. Proceed area –
Jogen Das, MLA.”
Inspite
of our report conveyed to the local administration and the Hon’ble Prime
Minister no action was taken for our protection and resistence. I have
personally visited devastated area and found that in every Hindu village there
have been destruction as if by an atom bomb. It is also to be observed that the
inhabitants of the Tipperah district who were the victims were mostly poor
tillers and fishermen. The hooligans forcibly took away the bullocks, plundered
everything, even the plough and seeds have been destroyed by burning. The
houses and thin nets have been burnt in Ramchar, Charmugra, Mandartali,
Kanchiara etc. all the villages under P.S. Faridgunj. The only assets of these
poor illiterate fishermen who are dependent on the boats and fishing nets for
their earnings have become penniless overnight and turned into beggars due to
the riot.
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